I'll share the flip side: what happens if you don't replace old windows. My wife and I sold our Largo house last year without updating the 1980s single-pane windows (they were pretty old-school jalousie types in the Florida room and aluminum single-hungs elsewhere). We were on a tight budget and decided to price the house a bit lower rather than replace them.
Well, during the buyer's inspection, a bunch of issues came up: a couple of windows didn't open properly, one had a cracked pane, and there was some wood rot starting around the frames. The buyers used that as leverage to negotiate a credit for window repairs/replacement. We ended up giving them $5,000 credit specifically for windows anyway! In hindsight, I kind of wish we'd just done it ourselves earlier - we might have gotten more traffic or a higher offer, and we could have enjoyed the improvements before selling.
I'm actually in the middle of selling a home in Wesley Chapel. We did a bunch of upgrades but decided to skip the windows because they were decent vinyl ones from 2010. So far, buyers haven't made a big fuss about the windows (probably because they're not super old), but a couple folks did ask if they were hurricane-rated (they're not). I think because we have hurricane shutters, it's been okay.
My realtor did mention that if the windows were older or in worse shape, we definitely would have wanted to replace them. So I guess it really depends on the current state. If it's a borderline call, leaning toward replacing might be safer.
In terms of neighborhood comps, I have a pretty clear example. Two similar houses on my block in Clearwater sold this spring. One had all original windows from the 90s, the other had brand new energy-efficient windows from 2023.
The one with new windows sold for about $25k more than the one with old windows, and they were otherwise very comparable (similar size, both updated kitchens, etc.). Now, you can't attribute all $25k solely to windows, but the realtor for the higher-priced one did mention in their listing "brand new hurricane-rated windows throughout" as a highlight. It also sold in 2 weeks, whereas the other house took over 2 months. So new windows can be a differentiator.
If you do decide to replace, another benefit is avoiding any inspection issues like @kperez44 experienced. I had a couple of windows with failed seals (you know, that foggy condensation between double panes) and one with a slight leak when it rained hard. I replaced those ahead of listing my Palm Harbor home.
The inspector later noted the new windows as a positive and there were zero window-related issues to give the buyer any ammo to renegotiate. If you have any fogged glass or sticking frames, fixing or replacing them pre-sale is a smart move, whether or not you do a full replacement of all windows.
I agree with the above. In some neighborhoods around Tampa Bay, not having updated windows can actually make your home the odd one out. On my street in Seminole, every house that sold in the last couple of years had upgraded windows.
So when we were getting ready to sell, our agent straight-up told us: "If you don't update, expect lower offers because buyers will compare." We bit the bullet and did it, and sure enough, our home appraised higher than I initially expected. The appraiser made a note of the new windows (I saw it in the report) under improvements. So it does factor in.
I'll play devil's advocate a bit. We got a quote to replace all the windows in our 1975-built home, and it was expensive – around $30,000 for 15 windows (we were looking at good quality vinyl impact windows). We ultimately decided not to do it before selling because we just couldn't stomach the cost upfront. We listed the house as-is.
It did sell, and yes, we probably sold for less than we would have if the windows were new, but in our case I think it was okay. We might have left maybe ~$10k on the table based on buyer feedback and offers, but that was still $20k we didn't spend out-of-pocket.
However, I will say, the buyers absolutely mentioned the windows during negotiations. Initially we had a couple low offers citing the windows as an issue. We ended up settling with one buyer and no credits, but they certainly noticed the old windows. So it's a trade-off: spend $30k to maybe get $20k back and a faster sale, or don't spend and accept a possibly slower sale/lower price. We chose the latter due to personal finances at the time. Not ideal, but just providing that perspective.
That's a fair point, @jeffp59. Not everyone has the cash to drop on windows right before selling. One alternative I've seen is sellers offering a credit for window replacement in the contract (like you experienced in a way). But from what I've heard and seen, many buyers – especially here in Tampa Bay – would rather have the work done before they move in. So if you can swing it, doing it yourself before listing tends to pay off more than the credit route. A lot of buyers just want a home that's "done." In your case it worked out, but you had to navigate those lowball offers.
When I sold my previous home in Temple Terrace, we actually advertised a $5k credit for new windows instead of doing them (our windows were mid-90s vintage). Buyers were interested, but a few said they'd have preferred we just replaced them. It sold, but I think not having them done probably knocked some potential buyers out. Next time, I'd likely find a way to do the upgrade first if possible.
Quick tip: if you do go ahead with replacing your windows, choose a reputable installer and good quality windows. Tampa Bay humidity and thunderstorms can be tough on cheap, poorly-installed windows. You don't want to deal with leaks or warranty issues later (or have those become issues during a sale).
Also, good products often come with transferable warranties. For instance, the windows I installed came with a lifetime warranty that I was able to transfer to the buyer of my house. That gave the buyer extra peace of mind, knowing they'd be covered if anything went wrong. So going with a solid company (even if not the absolute cheapest bid) can pay off in the long run.
Definitely seconding the point about picking a good company and also timing. Keep in mind that window projects can take longer than expected. I live in Pinellas Park and when I ordered my windows, it took about 3 months from signing the contract to final install (manufacturing delays, permitting, scheduling - fun stuff).
So, if you decide to replace, don't wait until the last minute before you list your home. Give yourself enough lead time. And ensure permits are pulled and closed out properly. Nothing worse than getting to closing and discovering open permits on your property because the contractor didn't finalize something. That can actually delay or mess up a sale.
As someone who does a bit of real estate investing around Tampa Bay, I can confirm updated windows are a huge plus from a marketability standpoint. Whenever I renovate a property built before 2000, I almost always budget for window replacements if they haven't been done. It's one of those upgrades that modernize a house instantly.
Buyers here tend to zero in on the age of the roof, AC, and windows. If all those are newish, your home is labeled "well-maintained" and "move-in ready," which can justify a higher asking price.
I've had flips where we didn't touch the windows because they were fairly new already, and those sold fine. But on one older house in Dunedin, we skipped the windows to save money, and the feedback from showings was consistently like "love the house, but those old windows are a turn-off." The house eventually sold, but we had to accept a lower offer. Learned my lesson; now window upgrades are almost standard in my projects if needed.